(1941–2021) – Businessman, Entrepreneur & Industrialist
Christopher John Kirubi was a Kenyan businessman, entrepreneur, and industrialist, widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential corporate leaders. He served as a Director and the largest individual shareholder of Centum Investment Company, a leading East African business conglomerate.
Early Life & Education
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Born 20 August 1941 in Murang’a County, Kenya.
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Raised in a poor family; both parents died when he was young.
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Worked during school holidays to support himself and his siblings.
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First job after graduation: salesman repairing and selling gas cylinders for Shell Petroleum.
Career Journey
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1960s–1970s – Administrator at Kenatco, a government-owned transport company.
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1971 onwards – Began acquiring and renovating run-down buildings in Nairobi and Mombasa, later expanding into prime land development and commercial properties.
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Built a diversified portfolio across real estate, manufacturing, media, and finance, often leveraging loans from Kenyan financial institutions.
Business Holdings
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Centum Investment Company – Largest single investor; stock listed on the Nairobi and Uganda Securities Exchanges.
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Haco Industries Limited – Owned 100% of the household goods manufacturer.
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98.4 Capital FM – Owned 100% of the Nairobi-based radio station.
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Chaired multiple companies including:
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DHL Express Kenya Limited
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Haco Industries Kenya Limited
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Kiruna International Limited
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International House Limited
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Nairobi Bottlers Limited
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Sandvik East Africa Limited
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Served as non-executive director at:
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Bayer East Africa Limited
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UAP Provincial Insurance Company Limited
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Beverage Services of Kenya Limited
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Investments included stakes in Kenya Commercial Bank Group and Nation Media Group.
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2020 – Filed to acquire an additional 20% of Centum shares, adding to his existing 30% stake.
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Formerly owned 9.58% of UAP Holdings, later sold to Old Mutual in 2015.
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2020 – Haco Industries sold its BIC brand franchise to Société BIC, ending a 40-year partnership.
Recognition & Wealth
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Ranked by Forbes in 2011 as the second richest man in Kenya and 31st richest in Africa, with a net worth of $301 million.
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Dropped from the list of Africa’s 40 richest in 2012.
Philanthropy & Mentorship
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Founder of Ask Kirubi, a youth mentorship program.
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Passionate about youth empowerment, delivering talks in schools and universities across Kenya and engaging audiences through online platforms.
Death
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Passed away on 14 June 2021 after a long battle with colon cancer.
Key Legacy
Christopher Kirubi is remembered as a self-made industrialist who rose from humble beginnings to become one of Kenya’s most prominent business figures. His investments in real estate, manufacturing, media, and finance shaped Kenya’s corporate landscape, while his mentorship initiatives inspired a new generation of entrepreneurs.
